Apparatus for cleaning flat bottom grain tanks



June 2, 1955 L. MCCARTHY 2,713,814

' APPARATUS FOR CLEANING FLAT BOTTOM GRAIN TANKS Filed Aug. 14, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Edwin 1.. Me Gaff/7y.

A T TORNEVJ.

June 28, 1955 E MCCARTHY 2,711,14

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING FLAT BOTTOM GRAIN TANKS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 14, 1953 INVEVTOR.

\ Edwin L. McCarfhy.

&

ATTORNEYS.

APPARATUS FOR QLEANING FLAT BOTTOM GRAIN TANKS Edwin L. Mcflarthy, Kansas City, Mo, assignor to Bartlett and Company Grain, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application August 14, 1953, Serial No. 374,205

3 Claims. (Cl. 19864) This invention relates to apparatus for cleaning flat bottom grain tanks, and more particularly to an anger rotatable in the bottom of the tank to remove the grain from the tank through an opening in the bottom thereof.

it is the present practice to store grain or other materials in flat bottom storage tanks or bins having openings in the bottom thereof for removal of the grain therefrom to an elevator, but in such practice there is always a large amount of grain or other material left in the flat bottom of the bin or tank because it cannot be moved by gravity through the openings in the bottom.

It is the principal object of the present inventionto provide apparatus to remove the remaining grain or other material from the bottom of storage tanks or bins through the opening in the bottom thereof.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a support in the opening in the floor of the bin having a bracket for pivotally mounting an auger thereon; to provide a motor and gear reduction means for rotating the auger and its shaft; to provide a wheel support on the outer end of the auger shaft which supports the outer end of the auger when the floor of the tank is contacted; to provide clutch means on the wheel for rotating the same when it is desired; to provide a mounting for the auger and its shaft whereby the said auger may be tilted upwardly to Contact the top of the grain in the bin; to provide a bracket mounting for the motor; to provide a trough or baflle for the auger; to provide means for movement of the trough or baflie with respect to said auger whereby the auger may dig vertically into the grain or at an angle from its starting position; to provide means for holding the baffle in the desired position; and to provide a device of this character simple and eflicientin operation.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of my apparatus shown mounted in the bin and on top of the grain to be removed therefrom. v

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View partly in cross section showing the anger in horizontal position on the bottom of the tank with the baffle contacting the bottom of the bin.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on a line 33, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the supporting member bracket and mounting of the auger thereon.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on a line 5-5, Fig. 2, particularly illustrating the device for controlling the position of the trough or baflle.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view particularly illustrating the trough or battle in position for the auger to dig vertically through the grain.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view particularly illustratthe auger.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates cleaning apparatus imparting the features of my invention adapted to be used in a bin or tank 2. These bins are usually of circular construction and while my apparatus is particularly adapted for cleaning of grain from such structures it is also adaptable for use in square or rectangular bins or tanks wherein a plurality of openings are used in the bottom thereof.

The bin has side walls 3 and a bottom 4 having an opening 5 therein. 6 designates a support comprising a ring 7 adapted to engage in the opening 5 of the bottom of the tank. The ring has an outwardly extending annular flange 8 which engages on the floor 4 around the opening. The support or ring member includes a spider 9 comprising a plurality of ribs 10 having a central tube or sleeve 11 forming a bearing for a pin or king bolt 12 of a bracket 13 having upwardly extending arms 14 and 15. The bracket is angular-shaped having a depending flange as indicated at 16 and the pin 12 has a collar or head 17 to which the flange 16 is rigidly secured. A rib 18 is provided on the flange and collar 17 to lend rigidity to the structure.

Pivotally mounted to the upstanding arms 14 and by bolts 19 and 20 is a frame 21 having outwardly extendH ing arms 22 and 23 connected at their outer ends by a cross member 24. Braces 25 and 26 are provided for the frame and outwardly extending arms 22 and 23, and a motor 27 is mounted on the arms by bolts or the like 28 extending through openings 29 in said arms. The frame includes a back 30 which extends above the framework as indicated at 31. Mounted on the back 30 of the frame structure near the bottom thereof is an enclosed bearing 32 for a short shaft 33 provided on its outer end with a flange 34. The bearing 32 includes a flange 35 for securing the bearing to the back 3%) of the frame. The flange 35 may be secured to the back member by bolts 36 or other suitable means.

37 designates a screw conveyor having a shaft 38 which extends outwardly from the framework structure upon which is mounted spirals 39 for conveying the material to the opening 5 in the bottom of the tank. Mounted on the inner end of the shaft 37 is a flange 40 adapted to be secured to a flange 34 secured to the outer end of the short shaft 33 by bolts or the like 41 to form a coupling between the shaft 37 and short shaft 32.

Mounted on the shaft 37 and spaced from the couplinga short distance is a bearing 42 and mounted on the outer end of the shaft spaced from the end thereof is a bearing 43. The shaft 37 extends outwardly from the screw conveyor as indicated at 44 and mounted thereon is a wheel 45 made of rubber or other suitable material for supporting the outer end of the conveyor and rotating with the conveyor shaft when the conveyor is in the horizontal position as shown in Fig. 2. The wheel 45 has a sleeve or hearing 46 with friction flanges 47 and 47 engaging the sides of the wheel. The wheel is spaced from the conveyor by keyed hub 48 having a flange 49 engaging the flange 47 of the wheel. A clutch member 50 is provided on the outer end of the shaft 37 and comprises a keyed hub 51 having a flange 52 engaging the flange 47 of the wheel. A coil spring 53 is adapted to engage over the shaft and the keyed hub 51 having one end bearing against a washer 54 and its other end against the flange 52 of the hub 51. The outer end of the shaft is provided with a plurality of openings 55 adapted to receive a pin or bolt 56 for securing thereto a lever 57 having a head 58 providing a cam .surface 59 for engaging against the outside of the washer 54 for exerting pressure on the spring to cause rotation of the wheel. Disengagement of the cam head grain through the opening 5.

from the washer by movement of the lever will disengage the clutch from the wheel (Fig. 1).

60 designates a baffle or trough member which extends the full length of the spiral conveyor and comprises a sheet of material 61 such as metal or the likehaving its outer edges rolled as indicatedat-62 and63 (Figs. and 6). Secured'to the respective outer ends-of the bathe by welding or other suitable means'are arms 64 and65 having their outer free'ends weldedorotherwise suitably secured to the bearings 42 and 43 respectively as'illustrated at 65-and 67 (Figs. 5 and 6). The lower edge of the baffie is provided with an'opening as indicated at 68 and the arms 65 are-extended therethrough and welded as indicated at 69. v

'Secured to the backof the bafile near the upper edge thereof by welding or other suitable means are spaced brackets '70 havingslots 71 adapted to receive the shanks of I-bolts 72 connected to spaced I-bolts 73 carried by the arm 22 of the framework structure for adjustably mounting the battle thereto. The threaded I-bolts 72 are provided with spaced nuts 74 and 75 for adjustment on the'threads of the rod to adjust the height of the battle with respect to the auger of the conveyor.

The motor 27 includes a shaft 76 and a housing 77 for the usual gear reduction mechanism (not shown). The gear reduction mechanism includes a shaft 78 which extends through an opening 79 in the back 31 and mounted on the shaft is a sprocket 80 leading to a sprocket 81 mounted on the short shaft 32 which extends through an opening in the lower portion of the back 25. A chain 82 runs over the sprockets 80 and 81 for driving the screw conveyor through the motor 27. A housing or plate 83 is provided for covering the chain and sprocket mechanism and is secured to the back by studbolts or the like 84, thus forming a housing for the chain and sprocket which is adapted to contain a lubricant as is the usual practice.

Operation of apparatus constructed and assembled as described is as follows:

The storage bins or tanks usually contain an opening in the sidewalls thereof (not shown) and themechanism of the present apparatus may be inserted therethrough, and the supporting member comprising the ring 7 and the bracket arrangement secured in the opening 5 inthe bottom of the tank. Thebracket and frame for the motor mounting are readily attachable to the support through the bolts 19 and -and the screw conveyor may be attached to the coupling provided'by the flanges 34 and 40. The hangers for the baffie are also detachable and may be assembled inside of the storage tankif desired.

With the device assembled as shown in Fig. 1 the screw conveyor will engage the top of the grain or other material in the tank'and with the baffle in raised position as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the auger will .dig downwardly in a substantial straight lineto the bottom of the tank and continued operation of the motor will remove the When the conveyor is in the position shown in Fig. 1, it is not necessary tohave the wheel 4'4'rotating but it maybe desirable when the auger reaches the bottom of the tank. When the auger reaches the bottom of the tank, the baffle maybe lowered to the position shown inFigs. 2 and 5 and the baflle acts to prevent the grain from being thrown back from the auger, the spirals of the auger carrying the-grain to the opening along the baffle. At this point the clutch may be manipulated so the wheel *will engage the bottom of the tank and as the grain is removed the wheel'will cause the auger mechanism to feed into the grain as it moves around the tank in a circular manner so that it will eventually move all of the grain or other materialthrough the opening 5. When the baflie :60 isin the position shown in Fig. 2, the lower edge'SS will contact the-bottom of the tank and scoop-up'the grain so-that:the:spiral may convey it to the opening in the tank.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that I have provided'an improved apparatus for removing material from storage tanks or the like, which may be quickly assembled and operated to clean the tank at a minimum cost. It will also be noted that the baffle has two positions, one over the auger to cause the auger to move downwardly through the material to 'the'bottom of the bin and the other to the side of the auger when the auger is moved over the floor of thebin. It is also obvious that when the apparatus is inserted in a bin, it is merely placed upon the bulk material and caused to move downwardly when the baffle is moved to the first position. It is also obvious that the construction of the auger frame, which includes the uprightand lateral portions, provides a compact construction which with the coupling 34 permits transportation and assembly of the apparatus in sections, one of which may be the support 6, another the auger frame including the motor and speed reducing unit and another the auger and baffle that is associated therewith.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for removing bulk material through the bottom outlet opening of a storage bin after the material has reached an angle of repose between the bottom' and side walls of the bin, said apparatus including a support for engagement within the outlet opening of the bin and having a bearing in substantial alignment with the center of said opening, a bracket having pivotal support by said bearing and having upwardly extending spaced apart arms, an anger supporting frame-having an upright .portion and a laterally extending portion, means'pivotally speed reduction unit carried upon said laterally extending portion of the supporting frame and having a driving connection with said end of the auger to effect rotation thereof, mobile means for supporting the other end of the auger, a baflle substantially coextensive with the auger, means supporting the baflie coaxially from ends of the auger to swing from a position over the auger when the auger and supporting frame pivot on said arms of the bracket to render the auger effective in moving downwardly through the bulk material and moving the material along the under side of the baflie to said outlet and toswing to a position at the side of the auger when the auger supporting frame and auger are moved on said bearing support for clearing the material from the bottom of the bin and moving the material along saidbaflie to the outlet opening, and removable means connecting the battle with said laterally extending portion of the supporting frame to support the bafile in said last named position.

2. An apparatus for removing bulk material as described in claim 1 wherein said mobile means for sup- .porting said other end of the auger comprises a wheel having rotating support on the auger shaft, and a clutch for connecting the wheel with the shaft for driving the wheel to effect movement of the auger on said bearing support when clearing the bottom of the storage bin.

ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,482,524 Robinson Feb. 5, 1924 1,735,920 Fitzhugh Nov. 19, 1929 2,058,125 Bean- Oct. 20, 1936 2,528,679 Ballard et al Nov. 7, 1950 

